Biological activity of pilosella hoppeana subsp. testimonialis extract in wound model created in rats

In this study we aimed to investigate wound healing activity with in vitro and in vivo studies of Pilosellla hoppeana subsp testimonialis which is growed in region of Balikesir, has widely used for healing the wounds for many years and known as "tırnak otu, tüylü ot" in public. In the study, the methanol extract of the plant was applied topically by circular excision method in experimentally generated wounds in rats and in vivo studies were performed. Biological activity studies (antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hydroxyproline assay), histological studies and gene expression studies (RT-PCR) were performed on the wound skin tissue obtained from rats. Cell culture studies were carried out to clarify the mechanism on wound healing of the plant. In addition, antimicrobial, tyrosinase enzyme inhibition and HPLC studies were performed on the plant extract. In gene expression studies, it is observed that the plant contributes to healing by increasing the expression of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), matrix metallopeptidase-9 (MMP-9), interleukin 1beta (IL-1β) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) genes which are effective in inflammation. It was seen on mechanism studies that the effect of the plant on wound healing was achieved by increasing the HO concentration and inhibiting of the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzyme in the cells. In the antimicrobial studies, the plant has been seen to be effective on microorganisms which cause inflammation. Syringaldehyde, sinapic acid, benzoic acid and quercetin were found in the aerial parts of the plant in the HPLC studies. As a result of the study, it is clearly seen that the plant is effective on wound healing in the manner supporting using the plant by the people. This thesis study is the first study on the wound healing effect of the plant, and it is original study with regard to investigating the first time in the plant to perform in vivo studies, antimicrobial, RT-PCR, mechanism studies and tyrosinase enzyme inhibition studies.